Conditioning taste aversions to locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) in horses

Locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) is a serious poisoning problem for horses grazing on infested rangelands in the western United States. Our objectives were to determine 1) whether lithium chloride or apomorphine would condition aversions to palatable foods, and at what doses, and 2) whether horses could be averted to fresh locoweed in a pen and grazing situation. Apomorphine was not an acceptable aversive agent because at the dose required to condition an aversion (> or = 0.17 mg/kg BW), apomorphine induced unacceptable behavioral effects. Lithium chloride given via stomach tube at 190 mg/kg BW conditioned strong and persistent aversions to palatable feeds with minor signs of distress. Pen and grazing tests were conducted in Colorado to determine if horses could be averted to fresh locoweed. Pen tests indicated that most horses (5/6) were completely averted from locoweed. Treated horses ate 34 g of fresh locoweed compared to 135 g for controls (P < 0.01) during three pen tests when offered 150 g per test. One horse (T) in the treatment group ate locoweed each time it was offered in the pen, but ate no locoweed while grazing. In the grazing trial, control horses averaged 8.6% of bites of locoweed (P < 0.01) during the grazing portion of the study, whereas treated horses averaged <0.5%. One treated horse (S) accounted for all consumption; he consumed 15% of his bites as locoweed in a grazing bout on d 2 of the field study. Thereafter, he was dosed a second time with lithium chloride and ate no locoweed in the subsequent 5 d. Three of six horses required two pairings of lithium chloride with fresh locoweed to condition a complete aversion. The results of this study indicate that horses can be averted from locoweed using lithium chloride as an aversive agent, and this may provide a management tool to reduce the risk of intoxication for horses grazing locoweed-infested rangeland.     

Feed preferences and habituation of sheep poisoned by locoweed

Livestock addiction to locoweed is commonly cited as a clinical sign of locoweed poisoning. However, there have been no physiological or pathological explanations for the reported addiction. Four hypotheses were tested to evaluate locoweed's (Astragalus lentiginosus) addictive nature: 1) animals become psychologically addicted to locoweed; 2) animals have an innate preference for locoweed; 3) animals become habituated to locoweed in the sense of acquiring an acceptance or liking for it; and 4) intoxicated animals lose the ability to discriminate between feeds and eat whatever is present. Two feeding trials were conducted to evaluate these hypotheses. In 1987, 20 ewes were fed a pelleted basal feed consisting of alfalfa with 20% locoweed to induce locoweed poisoning. Five control ewes were fed pelleted alfalfa. In 1988, seven ewes were fed a basal feed consisting of alfalfa and 15% locoweed, and five control ewes were fed pelleted alfalfa. At 2- to 3-wk intervals, ewes from both trials were placed on cafeteria trials and offered a choice of four feeds (100% locoweed pellets, 15% or 20% locoweed pellets, mixed grain pellets and alfalfa pellets) to evaluate their preferences at increasing levels of intoxication. Sheep did not seek out locoweed, which would have indicated a psychological addiction. Locoweed was not innately palatable to sheep. One ewe habituated to 100% locoweed and two ewes habituated to the 15% locoweed diet. The rest of the ewes rejected the 100% locoweed pellets and the 15% or 20% locoweed basal feed when the choice of feeds was offered, even though they were severely intoxicated. Sheep show neither initial preference nor addiction to locoweed but may acquire preference (habituation).     

Grazing of spotted locoweed (Astragalus lentiginosus) by cattle and horses in Arizona

Spotted locoweed (Astragalus lentiginosus var. diphysus) is a toxic, perennial plant that may, if sufficient precipitation occurs, dominate the herbaceous vegetation of pinyon-juniper woodlands on the Colorado Plateau. Six cow/calf pairs and four horses grazed a 20-ha pasture with dense patches of locoweed in eastern Arizona during spring 1998. Locoweed density was 0.7 plants/m2 in the pasture. Locoweed averaged 30.4% NDF and 18.4% CP. Concentrations of the locoweed toxin, swainsonine, fluctuated from 1.25 to 2 mg/g in locoweed. Horses ate more (P < 0.01) bites of locoweed than did cows (15.4 and 5.1% of bites, respectively). Horses generally increased locoweed consumption over time since they ate approximately 5% of bites in the preflower stage compared with 25% of bites in the pod stage. Cattle consumed almost no locoweed (< 1% of bites) until the pod stage, when they increased consumption to 15% of bites. Horses were very avid (approximately 65 to 95% of bites) in selecting the small quantities (approximately 40 to 150 kg/ha) of available green grass, and it appeared that their propensity to eat scarce green forage influenced their locoweed consumption as well. Horses ate relatively little dry grass, even when it was abundant, whereas cattle ate large amounts of dry grass until green grasses became more abundant. Calves began eating locoweed on the same day as their dams and ate approximately 20% of their bites as locoweed. Serum concentrations of swainsonine were higher (P < 0.05) in horses than in cattle (433 vs. 170 ng/mL, respectively). Baseline swainsonine was zero in all animals, but swainsonine was rapidly increased to above 800 ng/mL in serum of horses as they ate locoweed. Horses exhibited depression after eating locoweed for about 2 wk; after 5 wk of exposure, horses became anorectic and behaviorally unstable. Although limited in scope, this study indicates that horses should not be exposed to spotted locoweed.     

Effects of diet and climate on growing horses

The effects of diet and climate were assessed in 42 light horse weanlings over 30 wk. Horses were fed diets varying in energy and phosphorus content. Diets were predominantly forage (73 to 77.5%) or concentrate (62 to 62.25%) and had 2.65 or 3.09 Mcal DE/kg DM, respectively. Horses were weighed every 14 d. Group feed intakes and climatic variables were recorded daily. Dietary phosphorus content did not affect intake or gain. Horses fed forage diets ate 18% more (P less than .001) DM than horses fed concentrate, but DE intakes did not differ. Average DE intakes, 21.5 Mcal daily, were 33% more than those given in 1978 National Research Council (NRC) tables. Overall ADG by forage- and concentrate-fed horses were .83 and .89 kg, respectively. These values were 23 and 32% above mean ADG values given for horses at 6 and 12 mo in 1978 NRC tables. Average daily gain declined (P less than .01) with age, although daily DE intake increased (P less than .01). Total DM and DE intakes were determined largely by body weight, but age was the main determinant of weight-scaled DE intake. Weight- and age-scaled DE intakes were reduced (P less than .001) by 6.1% at temperatures below -10 degrees C compared with temperatures above -10 degrees C. Temperatures below -20 degrees C had no greater effect on DE intake than those between -10 to -20 degrees C. Neither precipitation nor wind alone affected weight- and age-adjusted DE intake. In conclusion, weanling horses fed readily digested diets ad libitum gained weight at or above expected values even at severely cold ambient temperatures.     

Voluntary intake and digestibility of reed canarygrass and timothy hay fed to horses

Thousands of hectares of timothy (Phleum pretense L.) grown in the Mid-Atlantic region are infected by cereal rust mite (Abacarus hysterix) that causes discoloration and curling of leaves, decreased nutritional quality, and substantial decreases in yield. A decline in production of timothy hay can lower income for hay producers and cause horse owners to search for alternative hays. Low alkaloid reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) hay has potential as an alternative to timothy hay because it grows well in the Mid-Atlantic region, is believed to have a similar nutrient quality to timothy, and is not as susceptible to cereal rust mite. Eleven mature, stalled Thoroughbred geldings (549 +/- 12.1 kg) that were exercised daily were used to compare voluntary DMI and apparent nutrient DM digestibility of timothy and low-alkaloid Chiefton variety reed canarygrass hay. Horses were paired by age and BW and randomly assigned to timothy or reed canarygrass hay during a 14-d period to measure voluntary DMI followed by a 4-d period to measure apparent DM digestibility. Both hays met the minimum requirements for DE, CP, Ca, P, K, Fe, and Mn, but they did not meet the minimum requirements for Cu, Zn, and Na for horses at maintenance and averaging 550 kg of BW. Timothy hay seemed to have a lower CP concentration (14.4%) compared with reed canarygrass hay (17.1%) and a more desirable Ca:P ratio at 1.6:1 compared with 0.8:1 for reed canarygrass hay. Horses fed timothy consumed more hay (P <0.001) during the voluntary DMI period compared with horses fed reed canarygrass. Greater voluntary DMI of timothy occurred on d 1, 3, and 5 (P <0.05), but DMI was similar for other days. Apparent DM digestibility was greater in horses fed timothy hay by 9.6% compared with horses fed reed canarygrass hay (P <0.05). Horses fed timothy had greater DM digestibility of ADF (P = 0.001), NDF (P = 0.001), sugar (P = 0.05), and Ca (P = 0.001) but lower apparent DM digestibility of CP (P = 0.012) and crude fat (P = 0.004). Timothy hay was superior in voluntary DMI and apparent DM digestibility compared with low-alkaloid reed canarygrass hay fed to horses.     

Field evaluation of a feed formulated for geriatric horses

Weight maintenance and blood chemistry parameters of geriatric (>20 yrs) horses and ponies housed at a farm for retired horses were compared between animals fed a 14% protein pelleted/extruded feed (ES) formulated specifically for geriatric horses versus those fed the textured sweet feed used at the facility. A total of 48 geriatric horses and 3 ponies were initially examined, 28 of which were assigned to be fed ES, the other 23 continued to be fed an 8.5% protein textured sweet feed mix (SF). Horses and ponies were fed the feeds in amounts estimated to be necessary for weight maintenance or gain according to initial body condition scores, with hay being offered free choice. The horses were weighed, assigned body condition scores and had blood drawn for complete blood counts and blood chemistry panels in December, 1992 before feed changes were initiated. The same measurements were taken on surviving horses and ponies three months after the feed changes had been made (March, 1993).For statistical analyses, data were grouped according to the animal's initial body condition score. Horses (n=17) and a pony with initial body condition scores of three or less (Group 1) which were fed ES had greater weight gain (ES: 32kg±4; SF: −9kg±7; p<.001); higher final condition scores (ES: 4.5±2; SF: 3.6±.3; p<.05) and plasma total protein (ES: 6.3 gm/dl±.2; SF: 5.2 gm/dl±.3; p<.005) in March than those fed SF (n=14). Group 1 horses fed SF experienced a decrease (p<.0001) in hematocrit (December: 41.4%±1.3; March: 34.4±1.2) and hemoglobin (December: 14.6±.4 gm/dl; March: 11.9±.3 gm/dl, p<.001), whereas those fed ES had a slight increase (p<.15) in hematocrit and no change (p>.2) in hemoglobin over the same period. Blood phosphorus was increased (December: 2.21±.08 mg/dl; March: 2.48±.07 mg/dl; p<.05) in Group 1 horses fed ES and tended (p<.15) to be higher than in Group 1 horses fed SF (March: 2.27±.12 mg/dl). In horses and the pony with initial condition scores greater than 3 (Group 2), condition scores, body weights and hematocrit did not differ (p>.2) between animals fed ES (n-9) versus SF (n=9) in December or March. However Group 1 animals fed ES experienced greater weight gains (p<.001) and increases in body condition score (p<.05) than Group 2 SF fed horses during this period. Blood phosphorus in Group 2 ES fed horses tended to increase (December: 2.3±.1 mg/dl; March: 2.6±.1 mg/dl; p<.10) and was higher (p<.01) in March than in Group 2 horses fed SF (March: 2.1±.1 mg/dl). In both groups, liver enzymes and creatinine did not differ (p>.2) between diets in March. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was higher in ES fed horses than the SF fed horses in March in both Group 1 (p<.02) and Group 2 (p<.07) but was within the normal range for adult horses.Horses which were fed the ES were subjectively assessed by the farm manager to have better hair coats and higher activity levels than when they had been fed textured sweet feed and relative to horses that were not fed ES. Geriatric horses, especially those unable to maintain adequate weight on standard rations in the absence of hepatic or renal disease, appear to benefit from the special formulation of ES.     

Arterial blood gas tensions in the horse during recovery from anesthesia

The effects of body position and postoperative oxygen supplementation on arterial blood gas tensions (PaO2 and PaCO2) and pH were examined in clinically normal adult horses during recovery from halothane anesthesia. Hypoxemia developed during recovery from anesthesia in spite of adequate alveolar ventilation in horses without postanesthetic oxygen supplementation. Hypoxemia developed in horses positioned in left lateral or right lateral recumbency, and in horses that were rolled to the opposite side during the recovery period. Arterial blood gas tensions were not significantly (P greater than 0.05) different between horses insufflated with 100% oxygen at the rate of 10 L/min during recovery and horses that did not receive oxygen supplementation during the recovery period. Horses that received 100% oxygen at the rate of 50 L/min through a demand valve had arterial blood gas tensions similar to those in standing awake horses.     

Continuous exposure to an aversive mixture as a means of maintaining aversion to vermeerbos (Geigeria ornativa O. Hoffm.) in the presence of non-averted sheep

Continuous exposure to an aversive mixture was investigated as a means of maintaining aversion to vermeerbos in sheep subjected to the social influence of non-averted sheep. The use of an aversive mixture was based on a hypothesis that continuous exposure to an acceptable aversive mixture (containing both the aversive substance and the identification factors of vermeerbos mixed with maize meal) would tempt sheep to consume small quantities of the aversive mixture each day and that this would keep them averted to vermeerbos, despite the social influence of non-averted sheep. Persistent aversion to a vermeerbos-maize meal mixture (1:99 by mass) by sheep continuously exposed to such an aversive mixture, after an initial aversion conditioning with lithium chloride (LiCl, 160 mg/kg BM), was demonstrated. Aversion in adjacent controls not exposed to the aversive mixture only lasted for some time. A similar result was obtained when sheep were challenged for intake of a pure stand of established vermeerbos. Three sheep continuously exposed to an aversive mixture after an initial aversion conditioning totally refused grazing the vermeerbos during a 42-day trial, despite the social influence of three non-averted control sheep grazing vermeerbos on an adjacent site. These results were confirmed by a second replication the following year. Joint grazing for an hour a day by averted and non-averted sheep during the last seven days of this replication also resulted in total avoidance of vermeerbos by the averted animals, despite continued intake of vermeerbos by the control sheep     

Adverse influence of social facilitation and learning context in training cattle to avoid eating larkspur

Through conditioned food aversion learning, livestock can be trained to avoid eating harmful plants. The objectives of this study were to determine whether social facilitation will extinguish an aversion to larkspur (a poisonous plant on mountain rangelands) and to determine whether the aversion can be reinforced to withstand social facilitation in a group-feeding and field-grazing situation. Two groups of heifers offered fresh larkspur were simultaneously infused intraruminally with lithium chloride (LiCl) to create an association between the taste of larkspur and LiCl-induced gastrointestinal distress. A third control group was infused with water. Heifers from one averted group (extinction) were paired with nonaverted controls and offered larkspur. When the extinction group sampled larkspur, and LiCl was not infused, the aversion was extinguished rapidly. Heifers in the other averted group (reinforcement), being infused with LiCl whenever they sampled larkspur, abstained from eating larkspur in the group-feeding situation. Heifers were then taken to larkspur-infested rangeland. After the control heifers began eating larkspur, the averted heifers started to sample it and the aversion was extinguished in three of four heifers. However, the aversion was renewed when the heifers were returned to the pen- and group-feeding situation where the aversion was created. Reinforced aversion was overcome by social facilitation in an unfamiliar field-grazing environment.     

Conditioning taste aversion to Mascagnia rigida (Malpighiaceae) in sheep

The objective of this study was to determine if sheep could be averted to Mascagnia rigida, a toxic plant found in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. Twelve female sheep naïve to M. rigida were randomly allocated to two treatment groups: control (treated with 15 mL water orally by a drenching gun) and lithium group (treated with 150 mg LiCl/kg body weight orally by a drenching gun). For conditioning, sheep were allowed to feed on M. rigida leaves for 15 min, followed by LiCl or water administration. The time spent eating M. rigida leaves was measured. The conditioning was repeated daily until the LiCl-treated sheep stopped eating M. rigida, which occurred at days 2 and 3. Persistence trials were conducted on day 10, 24, 40, 55, and 70 of the trial using single-choice tests. There was no difference between the two treatment groups with respect to the consumption of M. rigida on the first day of aversion conditioning. On the second day, three out of the six sheep in the lithium group did not eat the leaves, but on the third day, all the sheep in the lithium group did not ingest M. rigida. This aversion persisted throughout all the persistence trials. This indicates that sheep can be easily conditioned by using lithium chloride to avoid eating M. rigida.     

Growth, nutrient utilization, radiographic bone characteristics and postprandial thyroid hormone concentrations in weanling horses fed added dietary fat

Thirty, 19-week-old Quarter Horses were utilized in a 112-d study to compare growth, nutrient utilization and post prandial thyroid hormone concentrations in weanling horses fed fat-supplemented or conventional diets. Concentrates were formulated to contain the same nutrient-calorie ratios and were fed with Coastal Bermuda grass hay in a 70:30 concentrate:hay ratio. Initially and at 28-d intervals the horses were weighed and measured for height, heart girth circumfer ence and subcutaneous fat thickness over the rump and ribs. Radiographs were taken of the right carpal and metacarpal phalangealjoints at the beginning and end of the experimental period for evaluation of bone density and physeal maturation. A digestion trial was conducted on each horse 10 d prior to completion of the study. On d 70, blood samples were col lected from 6 females in each treatment group over a 6-h collection period for evaluation of postprandial insulin, T₄ and T₃ concentrations in response to the diets. Horses in both groups consumed an average of 2.6% of body weight daily of total feed (Dry Matter). Weanlings consuming the fat-supplemented concentrate tended to have higher (P = .10) average daily weight gains (.80 vs .74 kg) and lower (P<.05) feed:gain ratios (6.3 vs 7.3) than weanlings fed the control diet. Gain in heart girth circumference was greater (P<.05) for the fat fed weanlings (20.1 cm) than the control weanlings (17.9 cm). All other linear measurements of growth were similar between treatments. There were no radiographic indications of abnormalities in the physes of horses on either treatment. Closure of the physes occurred at normal rates in foals on both treatments. Radiographic bone density was not different between treatments, and there was an expected increase in bone density in weanlings on both treatments over time. Digestibilities of protein and energy were similar between treatments, while ether extract and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities were higher (P<.05 and P<.06, respec tively) in those horses consuming the fat-supplemented diet (65.39 vs 57.67% and40.55 vs 35.62%, respectively). These data indicate that fat can be used as an energy source to support growth and development in weanling horses.     

Rumen distension and contraction influence feed preference by sheep

Distension of the rumen limits feed intake by livestock. Ruminal dysfunctions due to bloat, which causes distension by accumulation of excessive gas within the rumen, also reduce feeding. We hypothesized that excessive levels of rumen distension cause feed aversions and that preference increases for feeds eaten in association with recovery from bloat. To test these hypotheses, we determined whether 12 commercial crossbred lambs (average initial BW of 43 +/- 2 kg) could associate ingestion of specific feeds with the consequences of increased intraruminal pressure and its subsidence. Six of the lambs were fitted with rumen cannulas and offered ground alfalfa for 30 min after a rubber balloon was inserted into the rumen of each animal and distended with air to volumes of 1.8, 2.5, or 4.5 L. Subsequently, balloons were deflated and alfalfa was offered again for a second period of 30 min. Feed intake was not affected when the balloon was not distended (P = 0.45 to 0.93), but distension reduced feed intake (P < 0.001) in direct proportion to the magnitude of distension at all 3 volumes (R(2) = 0.70). Relief from distension promoted a compensatory increase in feed intake (P = 0.006). During conditioning to determine if lambs acquired a preference for a feed associated with recovery from distension, fistulated lambs were offered novel feeds: wheat bran (group 1; n = 3) and beet pulp (group 2; n = 3), and the balloon was distended for 30 min. Feeds were then switched and the balloons were deflated (recovery). Control lambs (n = 6) received the same feeding protocol without the balloons. Lambs formed strong aversions to feeds associated with distension and preferred feeds associated with recovery (P = 0.001 to P = 0.10). No preferences or avoidances were observed in control lambs conditioned without rumen distension (P = 0.17 to P = 0.87). Thus, rumen distension and recovery from distension induced feed aversions and preferences, respectively, which may be critical in learning avoidance of bloat-inducing plants and preferences for plants and supplements that relieve the incidence of bloat.     

Effects of an Estradiol Implant on Locoweed Consumption,Toxicity, and Recovery in Growing Beef Steers

Two experiments were conducted to determine effects of an estradiol implant (Compudose®) on locoweed consumption and toxicity in growing steers. In Exp. 1, 16 crossbred steers (185.3 ± 6.1 kg) were randomly assigned to two replicated treatments and received either an estradiol implant or no implant. Steers were assigned to one of four pastures and were rotated through all pastures, which differed in locoweed distribution, to allow equal access. Bite counts were recorded twice daily at 0600 and 1700 h during a period when steers were likely to consume locoweed. For bite counts, steers were observed for 5 min each, starting at 0600 and at 1700 h, and the number of bites taken of cool- and warm-season grasses, forbs, and locoweed were recorded. Blood was collected on d 0, 7, 28, 35, 63, and 119, and individual BW was recorded on d 0, 35, 63, and 119. Proportion of bites of locoweed consumed by implanted vs nonimplanted steers did not differ (P>0.10). Likewise, ADG, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, and thyroxine concentrations did not differ (P>0.10) between implanted and nonimplanted steers. In Exp. 2, 20 crossbred steers (212.3 ± 6.1 kg) were divided into four groups and individually fed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Treatments included: 1) estradiol implant + locoweed, 2) implant, no locoweed, 3) no implant + locoweed, and 4) no implant, no locoweed. Steers were implanted at d 0 and fed either a ground forage diet containing 80% sudangrass hay and 20% locoweed, or a diet of 100% sudangrass hay. Implanted steers had improved ADG vs nonimplanted steers (P<0.10) through 63 d on trial, but no differences were observed in steers fed locoweed vs sudangrass hay diets (P>0.90; locoweed x implant, P>0.10). Alkaline phosphatase activity was greater (P<0.05) for steers fed locoweed vs those not receiving locoweed on d 7, 14, and 21, whereas, thyroxine concentration was lower (P<0.06) in steers fed locoweed than those not fed locoweed on d 14 and 21. Estradiol concentrations were greater in implanted steers vs those not implanted (P<0.05). These results suggest no effect of an estrogen implant on locoweed consumption or on severity of locoweed toxicity by beef steers.     

Comparison of larkspur alkaloid extract and lithium chloride in maintaining cattle aversion to larkspur in the field.

Lithium chloride (LiCl) and larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) alkaloid extract were compared in their effect as an emetic to create taste aversions to fresh larkspur. They were further compared in the field to determine whether the indigenous larkspur alkaloids were more effective in maintaining the aversion when conditioned cattle were subjected to the social pressure (social facilitation) of control cattle eating larkspur. Taste aversions were produced in two groups of 1-yr-old cattle by offering fresh larkspur and then gavaging with either LiCl at 200 mg/kg of BW or larkspur alkaloid extract at 1.1 to 1.6 mL/kg of BW. The third group (control) was gavaged with water. The alkaloid group was slower to form an aversion than the lithium group, requiring four doses compared with two doses. All groups were then taken to larkspur-infested rangeland to test the aversion in the field. In the first field trial in which groups grazed separately, both aversion-induced groups generally abstained from eating larkspur. In the second trial in which all groups grazed together, both aversion-induced groups consumed less than half as much larkspur as the controls, but neither group abstained completely. Larkspur alkaloids did not maintain the aversion to larkspur to a greater degree than did LiCl when aversion-induced cattle were subjected to social facilitation.     

Meal size and feeding frequency influence serum leptin concentration in yearling horses

Energy is an essential nutrient for all horses, and it is especially important in performance horses, pregnant and lactating mares, and young growing horses. A negative energy balance in horses such as these may result in unsatisfactory performance, decreased fertility, or slow growth. Therefore, ensuring adequate energy intake is an important aspect of the nutritional management of the equine. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of feeding large, carbohydrate-rich, concentrate meals on the satiety-inducing hormone, leptin. Three groups of yearling horses were rotated through 3 feeding schedules in a replicated 3x3 Latin square design. Horses were fed 2, 3, or 4 times per day (2x, 3x, and 4xfeeding schedules, respectively), each for a period of 11 d, with the total amount of daily feed held constant. Horses were weighed and BCS was determined on the first day of each period. Blood samples were collected before the morning meal on d 1, 4, and 7 of each period. Additionally, blood was sampled for the last 24 h of the 2xand 4xdietary periods. Neither weight nor BCS changed during the study (P = 0.99 and P = 0.28, respectively). Both mean and peak plasma glucose were greatest in 2xhorses (P < 0.05), as were mean areas under the curve. Serum leptin concentration increased in 2xhorses (P < 0.05), but not in horses fed 3 or 4 times daily. Leptin was elevated in horses with greater BCS (P < 0.05) and increased steadily throughout the study (P < 0.05). Data from the 24-h collection indicated that 2xhorses had fluctuations in leptin production throughout the day (P < 0.05), whereas horses fed 4 times daily did not. Overall, this study indicates that feeding horses 2 large concentrate meals daily can increase mean serum leptin concentrations and may cause fluctuations in leptin production over a 24-h period. This departure from baseline leptin concentration has the potential to affect appetite, along with numerous other physiological processes.     

Adaptation to a Fat-Supplemented Diet by Cutting Horses

In a crossover experiment, eight mature Quarter Horses were exercised by simulated cutting-horse training and fed either a control concentrate (C) or a 10% fat-supplemented concentrate (F) with Bermuda grass hay in a 60:40 ratio. The experiment consisted of two 28-day experimental periods with a 28-day standardization period between treatments. Digestion trials and standardized exercise tests (SET) were conducted every 7 days during experimental periods. Dietary fat had no detrimental effect on digestion of diet constituents, and all digestion coefficients were within expected ranges. Likewise, there was no significant difference in heart rates between treatments or SET days. Plasma lactic acid concentrations did not differ (P > .05) between treatments, however, there was a decline (P < .05) with advancing SET day. When horses were fed fat, there was an increase (P < .05) in muscle glycogen storage from days 0 to 28, but there was no increase (P > .05) in muscle glycogen over time when horses were fed C. On days 7, 14, and 28, muscle glycogen utilization increased (P < .05) from day 0 when horses were fed fat but not C. Pre-exercise data were normalized such that day 0 values equaled zero, due to higher (P < .05) glycogen concentrations for C than F on day 0. Subsequently, muscle glycogen concentrations on day 28 before exercise were higher (P < .05) when horses were fed F than C. The results of this study indicate that Quarter Horses in simulated cutting-horse training can adapt to digestion of a fat-supplemented diet by day 14. However, it may take up to 28 days of adaptation to a fat-supplemented diet to observe increases in glycogen storage and use.     

Early aspects of locoweed toxicosis and evaluation of a mineral supplement or clinoptilolite as dietary treatments.

Sixteen crossbred beef heifers were used to determine the efficacy of serum clinical profiles as diagnostic tools for detection of early stages of locoweed toxicity and to test the ability of two mineral supplements for prevention or therapy of toxicosis. Dietary treatments were (DM basis) 1) 100% sorghum sudangrass hay, 2) 80% sorghum sudangrass hay:20% locoweed, 3) 80% sorghum sudangrass hay:20% locoweed plus 100 g of Silent Herder Mineral Mix (a mineral supplement reported to alleviate locoweed toxicity), and 4) 80% sorghum sudangrass hay:20% locoweed plus 100 g of clinoptilolite (a natural zeolite clay). Diets were fed at 1.5% of BW for 28 d, after which heifers had ad libitum access to sorghum sudangrass hay for 14 d. Jugular blood was sampled before feeding every 7 d, and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after feeding on d 28. Compared with controls, heifers fed locoweed had elevated (P less than .01) serum alkaline phosphatase activities from d 7 through 35. On d 42, alkaline phosphatase activities in heifers previously fed locoweed were lower (P less than .05) than in control heifers. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activities were elevated (P less than .01) in heifers fed locoweed from d 7 through 42 compared with control heifers. In heifers fed locoweed, serum Fe concentrations were less (P less than .01) on d 7 through 28, but no treatment effects were noted (P greater than .10) on d 35 or 42.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of feeding a blend of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins on feed intake, metabolism, and indices of athletic performance of exercised horses

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of feeding blends of grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins to mature, exercised horses, and to test the efficacy of a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GM polymer) in preventing Fusarium mycotoxicoses. Six mature, mixed-breed mares with an average BW of 530 kg were assigned to one of three dietary treatments for 21 d in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. Feed consumed each day was a combination of up to 3.5 kg of concentrates and 5.0 kg of mixed timothy/alfalfa hay (as-fed basis). The concentrates fed included 1) manage; 2) blend of contaminated grains; and 3) contaminated grains + 0.2% GM polymer (MTB-100, Alltech Inc., Nicholasville, KY). Concentrates containing contaminated grains averaged 11.0 ppm deoxynivalenol, 0.7 ppm 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, and 0.8 ppm zearalenone (as-fed basis). Feed intake and BW were monitored over a 21-d period. Horses were maintained on a fixed exercise schedule throughout the experiment. At the end of the experiment, each horse completed a time-to-fatigue treadmill step test. Variables measured during pretest, each step of the test, and 5 and 10 min posttest were as follows: 1) time-to-fatigue, 2) heart rate, 3) hematological variables, and 4) serum lactate concentration. Each step consisted of 2 min of fast trot with a 2% increase in incline after each 2 min. Feed intake by horses fed contaminated grains was decreased compared with controls throughout the experiment (P < 0.05). Supplementation of 0.2% GM polymer to the contaminated diet did not alter feed intake by horses compared with those fed the unsupplemented contaminated diet. All hay was consumed regardless of concentrate fed. Weight loss from 0 to 21 d was observed in horses fed contaminated grains compared with controls (P < 0.05). No effect of diet was seen on variables used to measure athletic ability, although the results showed an expected response to exercise for a fit horse. We conclude that exercised horses are susceptible to Fusarium mycotoxicoses as indicated by appetite suppression and weight loss.     

Wood chewing by stabled horses: diurnal pattern and effects of exercise

Nine yearling horses, stabled in individual stalls, were used in a trial to determine the diurnal pattern of wood chewing and the effects of exercise on this behavior. The trial was a Latin square design conducted over three 2-wk periods during which each horse was exposed to each of the three following treatments: 1) no exercise (NE), 2) exercise after the morning feeding (AM), and 3) exercise in the afternoon (PM). Horses were fed a complete pelleted feed in the morning and both pelleted feed and long-stemmed hay in the afternoon. Exercise consisted of 45 min on a mechanical walker followed by 45 min in a paddock with bare soil. Each stall was equipped with two untreated spruce boards during each period for wood chewing. Wood chewing was evaluated by videotaping each horse for 22 h during each period, determining the weight and volume of the boards before and after each period, and by visual appraisal of the boards. Intake of trace mineralized salt was also measured. Wood chewing occurred primarily between 2200 and 1200. All measures of wood chewing were correlated when totals for the entire 6 wk were analyzed. When analysis was performed on 2-wk values, videotape results were not correlated with volume or weight loss of boards. Horses chewed more when on the NE treatment (511 s/d) than when on AM or PM (57 and 136 s/d, respectively; P less than .05). Salt intake tended to be greater for NE than for the other treatments (P less than .10).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of Feed Processing Method on Average Daily Gain and Gastric Ulcer Development in Weanling Horses

The present study evaluated the effects of two different methods of feed processing on growth and gastric ulceration in 16 weanling Standardbred horses. The two diets were composed of identical ingredients that were processed differently and fed at a rate of 3% body weight per day. The hay and grain diet (diet HG) consisted of 50% alfalfa hay cubes and 50% commercial texturized grain mix fed as is, without any further processing, with the cubes and grain fed in separate containers. The complete pelleted diet (diet CP) consisted of the same proportion of hay cubes and grain mix, which was ground, pelleted, and fed in a single container. The horses were divided into two groups and the study was divided into three periods of 30 days each. During period 1, all 16 horses consumed only free choice alfalfa hay (diet H). Group 1 was given diet CP during period 2 and diet HG during period 3. Group 2 was given diet HG during period 2 and diet CP during period 3. The horses were endoscopically examined for the baseline number and severity of stomach ulcers at the end of period 1, then again at the end of each treatment diet feeding period. Horses on diet CP in periods 2 and 3 had greater ulcer numbers (P = .0135) than diet HG. However, there was no significant difference (P = .30) in ulcer numbers when making a direct comparison between diets CP and HG. Despite the gastric ulceration found in horses on diet CP, the average daily gain was significantly greater (P = .016) for diet CP than for diet HG. Both diets containing grain were observed to cause gastric ulceration.